Hotel's end is a painful milestone

The 88-year-old St. Clair Inn closed its doors on Saturday. Its fate awaits a new owner.

The St. Clair Inn's closing Saturday is a terrible blow to the city and county that share its name and to the Blue Water Area, a region determined to strengthen its tourism appeal.

In its 88 years, the St. Clair Inn was a source of countless memories. A Michigan Historic Landmark and one of the National Register of Historic Places, the inn served plenty of customers who cherished dinners or a St. Clair River view from one of its rooms.

As sad as news of its closing might be, it was hardly unexpected. The hotel had fallen on hard times.

It went into foreclosure Aug. 8 with a grace period to settle its debts by Feb. 9. With more than $95,000 in taxes, $2.1 million to the bank and about $355 a day in interest the St. Clair Inn LLC owed, closing the storied hotel appeared to be the only option.

There is hope. Port Huron's former Thomas Edison Inn was in financial peril. But the county's Blue Water Area Convention Center development gave it new life.

Hilton Hotels bought the inn as part of its partnership with the county and other investors. The Hilton DoubleTree is positioned to serve part of the county's hospitality needs, and a similar outcome could be in store for the St. Clair Inn.

Dan Casey, chief executive officer of the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, said potential buyers are interested in the inn. One of them, he said, is a St. Clair resident.

"The closure of the inn at this point will help that individual begin to move forward with a potential purchase," Casey said.

Buying the property is problematic. When St. Clair Inn LLC bought the hotel from Waterfront Hotel Ventures in 2005, a parcel of the property was withheld. That violated St. Clair's zoning ordinance that prevents the parcels from being separated. Without a clear title to the inn property, it cannot be sold.

St. Clair Inn LLC won a lawsuit against Waterfront Hotel Ventures, but the ruling is being appealed, which leaves the inn's possible sale in doubt.

The inn needs an owner to make it thrive again, and so does our community.

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Hotel's end is a painful milestone

The St. Clair Inn's closing Saturday is a terrible blow to the city and county that share its name and to the Blue Water Area, a region determined to strengthen its tourism appeal.